WASHINGTON, DC – Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that, beginning Monday, November 24, 2025, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) will accept applications for Stage 2 of the Supplemental Disaster Assistance Program (SDRP).
In December 2024, the American Relief Act was signed into law, which included more than $30 billion for economic and disaster assistance. In July, FSA rolled out SDRP Stage 1, which is available to producers who received an indemnity under crop insurance or the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) for eligible crop losses due to qualifying 2023 and 2024 natural disaster events. To date, more than $5.7 billion has been delivered to producers through SDRP Stage 1, and a total of $16 billion has been allocated for SDRP assistance.
SDRP Stage 2 builds on the basic framework deployed under Stage 1 to deliver disaster assistance in a manner consistent with previously indemnified losses compensated under Stage 1. Stage 2 will provide payments to eligible producers who experienced shallow losses from qualifying disaster events in 2023 and 2024. Also included in Stage 2 is a quality loss component that covers quality losses not previously covered by federal crop insurance or NAP. Producers suffering quality losses must provide verifiable documentation to support the certified quality loss percentage.
“USA Rice appreciates the USDA team for its hard work in expediting the second phase of the SDRP, which comes one week after the conclusion of a 43-government shutdown,” said Jake Westlin, USA Rice vice president of government affairs. “Whether it was ECAP or the SDRP, USDA has shown its commitment to getting these vital resources to farmers who experienced disaster and continue to face a challenging farm economy.”
For Stage 2, producers can use the
SDRP Stage 2 Checklist to start preparing their application, which can be submitted to their local FSA office starting November 24, 2025. Producers have until April 30, 2026, to apply for both stages.
For Stage Two program details, including fact sheets, please visit
fsa.usda.gov/sdrp. FSA recommends that, before applying, producers review the checklist to ensure the required forms are on file with their FSA county offices and that they have gathered any supporting documentation that may be required to ensure eligibility.
USA Rice is continuing to advocate and track likely financial assistance announcements to support 2025 losses.